PH’s first eco-friendly airport in Bohol almost complete, opening soon

The new Panglao International Airport's completion rate is at 90.14% as of 30 June 2018

July 11, 2018

After the opening of Mactan Cebu International Airport earlier this month, dubbed as the “World’s Friendliest Resort-Airport,” another airport in Visayas that is groomed to be the “Green Gateway to the World,” will open in August. The new Panglao International Airport in Bohol marked its 90.14% completion rate last 30 June, and is expected to be fully operational in the next three months.

The P7.8-billion international airport stretches 13, 337 square meters on a 223-hectare land in Barangays Tawala and Danao in the Panglao resort town. It is envisioned to accommodate all the operations and the passengers that the old airport in Tagbilaran City receives every year. From the 800,000 passengers currently accommodated by Tagbilaran Airport, the new airport is expected to accommodate two million passengers from its opening alone, servicing both international and domestic flights.

Designed by Japan Airport Consultants and built under the Chiyoda-Mitsubishi joint venture as contractor, the airport is envisioned to be the country’s first eco-airport with the advanced Japanese technology in green building. The airport will be using geo-textile sheets and a filtering system that would protect the surrounding environs from pollutants from the drainage. The airport’s energy will be generated by solar panels. LED and natural lighting will work in tandem. A waterworks system will also be integrated.

The “Green Gateway to the World” is a combined effort between the Philippine government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It started to come to life in June 2015, and was initially set to be completed by 2021. However, according to the Department of Transportation Facebook page, the project is three years ahead of the initial target completion date, and will be opening to the public in October.